Mooring near miss: Guide roller pin suffered material failure

What happened?

A deck stand guide roller pin suffered material failure at its foundation whilst a vessel was mooring. Weather, wind and tide conditions were gentle at the time of the incident and the vessel was being held in position using thrusters with no appreciable movement or excessive loads which could have contributed to this incident.

During mooring operations at the forward station when the 3rd head line (blue line in diagram below) was being heaved up using the warping head (the plan was to make it fast on a bollard to the aft of the failed roller) the deck stand roller pin parted from it’s base and hit a heater located just aft of this position.

There were no injuries.  However, it is evident that any crew member standing in the line of fire of the damaged roller would have been seriously injured. The winch pulling force was 12 tonnes, the roller stand SWL was 33 tonnes.

What were the causes?

• The mooring layout on this vessel was complicated and also did not follow accepted and recommended practice, which caused overloading of structures;
• The routing of the mooring line caused an increase of axial forces on the roller;
• On further investigation it was noticed that roller pin was already in the process of degradation and at least some part of the welded structure had already disengaged from the base. The roller had not been inspected thoroughly;
• Multiple turns over various fittings increase the complexity of the mooring systems and introduce additional hazards such as complex snap back zones and overloading of structures.

Lessons learned

• Our member arranged to add to their Planned Maintenance System, dismantling and overhauling of deck stand guide rollers every third year;
• Ensure mooring plans use the most suitable and appropriate mooring arrangements;
• Avoid multiple turns which introduce complex snap back zones and additional hazards. Always discuss such risks as part of the daily planning and toolbox meeting;
• Be aware of your surroundings and of the line of fire.

Members may wish to refer to:

• Corrosion: failure of bolts on a cargo barge bollard
• USCG: bollard failures at marine facilities

The following IMCA Safety promotional material and safety guidance is available to members:

• Mooring practice safety guidance for offshore vessels when alongside in ports and harbours
• In the line of fire
• Mooring incidents
• Line of fire